A graft convict was installed on Monday as a regent in Papua, only to be suspended from the post pending confirmation of his legal status.
Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi said in Jakarta that he had signed the suspension letter for Yusak Yaluwo, who had just been installed as Boven Digul regent for his second term by Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu.
Barnabas installed Yusak and Yesaya Merasi as regent and deputy regent in a Papua council special plenary session that took place at the Home Ministry in Jakarta.
Last November, the Corruption Court in Jakarta had sentenced Yusak to four-and-a-half years in prison for corruption related to the procurement of a tanker vessel and the Boven Digoel regional budget in 2002 and 2005.
Yusak was also ordered to pay Rp 200 million (US$ 23,000) in fines or spend another six years in prison, and ordered to pay Rp 45.7 billion in compensation. If he could not pay the compensation, he would be ordered to spend another two years in jail.
Yusak is currently detained at Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta, Antara reported.